Interactive electronic game results as health indicators

ABSTRACT

In one example, a portable patient computing device receives results of a plurality of gaming sessions of a patient using a local or remote interactive electronic gaming system. The portable patient computing device identifies a trend based on the game results, or passes the game results to a caregiver computing device for remote trend identification. After the portable patient computing device receives a result of a new gaming session of the patient using a local or remote interactive gaming system, the portable patient computing device either analyzes the newly received result using the identified trend, or passes the newly received result to the remote caregiver computing device for remote analysis, or both. A caregiver of the patient is notified according to a result of the analysis.

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/218,378 filed on Aug. 25, 2011, entitled MOBILE PANIC BUTTON FORHEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM, which is a non-provisional of U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 61/378,540 filed on Aug. 31, 2010, entitled: MOBILEPANIC BUTTON FOR HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM, and a continuation in part ofU.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/151,528 filed on Jun. 2,2011, entitled: INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC GAME RESULTS AS HEALTHINDICATORS, and a continuation in part of U.S. Non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 13/151,034 filed on Jun. 1, 2011, entitled: METASMS/TEXT DATA EXTRACTION, and a continuation in part of U.S.Non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/104,371 filed on May 10, 2011,entitled: ACTIVITY TREND DETECTION AND NOTIFICATION TO A CAREGIVER, anda continuation in part of U.S. Non-provisional application Ser. No.13/102,300 filed on May 6, 2011, entitled: AIDED CONSTRUCTION OF SMSSTATUS MESSAGES TO CAREGIVERS, and a continuation in part of U.S.Non-provisional application Ser. No. 13/151,572 filed on Jun. 2, 2011,entitled: MONITORING ELECTRONIC DEVICE USAGE IN A MANAGED HEALTHCAREENVIRONMENT, and a continuation in part of U.S. Non-provisionalapplication Ser. No. 13/217,649 filed on Aug. 25, 2011, entitled: MOBILEDEVICE USER INTERFACE FOR HEALTH MONITORING SYSTEM, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

©2010-2011 pomdevices, LLC. A portion of the disclosure of this patentdocument contains material which is subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyoneof the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR §1.71(d).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Early detection of a decline in health, especially cognitive health, inan older adult can be critical for effective treatment. Checkups atmedical facilities can be useful for early detection, but are sometimestoo infrequent to provide immediate detection of a decline in health,especially cognitive health where declines can happen rapidly andwithout being easily noticed by friends and family.

Systems for monitoring health remotely with respect to the medicalfacilities, for example monitoring health in the home, do exist. Some ofthese existing systems fail to make adequate use of resources that mayalready be available in the home of the older adult, which can result inthese existing systems being prohibitively expensive and/or difficult todeploy. Some of these existing systems monitor only physical healthindicators, such as a heartbeat, but do not monitor cognitive healthindicators, such as cognitive agility.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one example, a portable patient computing device remote from acaregiver receives first information for a first gameplay sessionspanning a first time range, the first information including at leastone of a numerical score resulting from the first gameplay session, anin-game achievement resulting from the first gameplay session, or playduration resulting from the first gameplay session. The portable patientcomputing device receives second information for a second gameplaysession spanning a second time range that begins after an end of thefirst time range, the second information including at least one of anumerical game score resulting from a second gameplay session, a gameachievement resulting from the second gameplay session, or play durationresulting from the second gameplay session.

The portable patient computing device either identifies a trend based onthe collected first and second information, or passes the first andsecond information to a remote caregiver computing device for remotetrend identification. After the portable patient computing devicereceives third information for a third gameplay session spanning a thirdtime range that begins after an end of the second time range, the thirdinformation including at least one of a numerical game score resultingfrom the third gameplay session, a game achievement resulting from thethird gameplay session, or play duration resulting from the secondgameplay session, the portable patient computing device may analyze thethird information using the identified trend. The portable patientcomputing device may pass the third information to the remote caregivercomputing device for remote analysis. Either the portable patientcomputing device or the remote caregiver computing device (or both)notifies a caregiver according to the analysis.

In this application and the claims, we use the term “patient” broadly tomean any individual person whose activities are monitored consistentwith the present disclosure. We use the term “caregiver” broadly to meanany person who receives notifications related to patient activitiesconsistent with the present disclosure. “Caregiver” thus may include butis not limited to a doctor, nurse, other healthcare professional,friend, neighbor, family member, etc. And we use the term “home,”, as inthe patient's home, broadly to refer to any location where the patientspends much of their time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system to collect interactive game results ofgaming systems in the household for identifying health changes at aremote location.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example method for using the caregiver computingdevice and/or the patient computing device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 illustrates a system to collect interactive game results ofgaming systems in the household for identifying health changes at aremote location.

The system 100 includes a portable patient computing device 8 operatedby a patient in the home and a caregiver computing device 6 operating ina remote location. The portable patient computing device 8 containsprocessing device 11 to obtain game results generated by in-homegameplay by the patient.

The system 100 also includes one or more of the other gaming system(s)7A-D that are communicatively coupled to the processing device 8 over atleast one network (such as LAN 18). The gaming systems 7A-D can include,but are not limited to, a networked gaming console connected to adisplay such as a television, a networked personal computer having agame stored thereon, a networked portable gaming device such as a cellphone having a game stored thereon, or any other gaming system.Furthermore, the system can include a gaming system 7E operated by theportable patient computing device itself, e.g. a manufacturer installedgame or user downloaded game that utilizes an input/output interface ofthe device 8 for gameplay.

The portable computing device 8 is configured to obtain game results ofin-home gameplay of at least one of the gaming systems 7A-E. In someexamples, the game results from gaming systems 7A-D are collected solelyover the LAN 18. In other examples, one of the gaming systems 7A-D mayupload gaming results to a game server, and in those cases the portablepatient computing device 8 can be configured to collect gaming resultsover the WAN 16 from the gaming server instead or in addition tocollection over the LAN 18. Also, in other examples portable ones of thegaming systems 7A-D such as a cell phone may be played outside the home.In some cases the game results may be collected over the WAN 16 at anytime, or in other cases collected over the LAN 18 when the portablegaming system 7C comes in range.

The processing device 11 can be configured to, at various times, extractinformation from the gaming systems 7A-E. The extracted information caninclude, but is not limited to, score/achievements, frequency of play,duration of play, etc. The various times for extraction could bescheduled or requested ad hoc by the caregiver computing device 6. Inother embodiments, networked devices may initiate a communication, or“push” data when they have activity to report. For example, a gamingconsole may report a score at the conclusion of a game.

Once the processing device 11 has obtained the raw information fromgaming systems 7A-E as described above, in the present example theprocessing device 11 processes the information to identify a trend basedon the raw information from gaming systems 7A-E. It should be apparentthat any known form of trend analysis can be used.

Having identified a trend, the processing device 11 can compare newinformation extracted from one of the devices 7A-E to the identifiedtrend. If the new information varies from the identified trend by apredetermined threshold, the processing device 11 transmits a certaintype of notification (a health alert) to a caregiver. The transmittednotification can use SMS/text messaging, email, and/or other forms ofcommunication. If the new information does not vary from the identifiedtrend by the predetermined threshold, the processing device 11 can stilltransmit a result of the trend analysis to the caregiver, although thiswould not be a health alert type notification. An identified trend couldbe based on frequency of completed gameplay sessions, and a detectedvariation from the trend could be represented by the lack of newgameplay results at a time expected based on the trend.

In the case of the patient playing more than one gaming system, theanalysis based on the trend can also check a variance in the gameplayresults from one gaming system and correlate that variance with gameplayresults from other gaming systems, and based on this comparison,determine whether or not a threshold limit has been reached. Forexample, a person who usually plays a portable gaming device mayoccasionally spend more time playing a gaming console. Lack of gamingresults from the portable gaming device might be compensated by thegaming results from gameplay using the gaming console (meaning no healthalert is sent). Or, perhaps input from another source indicates nogameplay with any of the gaming systems, which would mean that thehealth alert does get sent.

The content of the uploaded notification can include results of thetrend analysis to be used by the caregiver in monitoring cognitivehealth (or for that matter any form of health) of the patient. In someexamples, the notification can be configured to highlight new deviationsfrom existing trends and/or to characterize such new deviations byassociating at least some of the trends with symptoms and characterizesymptoms.

The stored trend may be located in a memory of the portable patientcomputing device 8. The processing device 11 may update the stored trendfrom time to time. An update can occur at a scheduled time no matter howmuch or how little new information is available, or may occur inresponse to receiving a certain amount of new information.

Having now described the portable patient computing device 8 and theprocessing device 11 in one example of the system 100, it is noted thatother examples can include a caregiver computing device 6 containingprocessing device 22. Some or all of the functions described above bythe processing device 11 can be performed by the processing device 22 aspart of a distributed scheme.

For example, in one distributed scheme, the processing device 11 canupload the raw information extracted from the gaming systems 7A-E viaSMS/text messaging, email, and/or other forms of communication.Periodically or upon request, the processing device 22 determines atrend based on all of the raw information currently available on thecomputing device 6. The processing device 22 stores the determined trenddata on a local memory or a network accessible remote memory. Then, asthe portable patient computing device 8 feeds new raw information to thecomputing device 6, the processing device 22 can compare the new rawinformation to the stored trend data. According to the comparison, theprocessing device 22 can notify a caregiver, which may includedisplaying a message on a display attached to the computing device 6.

It should be apparent that the above example is just one example ofdistributing functions between the processing device 11 and theprocessing device 22. In other examples the functions can be distributedin any combination.

The present disclosure includes daily (or other period) gameplaymonitoring. The system then builds a database of information over time.The database can then be analyzed for trends and deviations from thosetrends, and the results could be communicated to appropriate partiessuch as caregivers or medical facilities. The database can be located ona portable patient computing device or on a network device remote fromthe portable patient computing device, or even distributed acrossmultiple network devices including the portable patient computingdevice.

Trends can be determined through a moving average algorithm such thatboth acute and longitudinal changes can be detected. Some specificembodiments would not only provide status and alerts, but could includerecommended actions for both the caregiver and the patient.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example method for using the caregiver computingdevice and/or the patient computing device shown in FIG. 1.

In process 200 a game session is initiated by a patient, either at thepreference of the patient (201A) or the caregiver (201B). Gameplay canbe on any interactive electronic device, such as the computing device 8or a remote interactive electronic device. In process 202 informationfrom the gaming session is stored in the computing device 8 or thenetworked gaming system.

In process 203A or 203B, analysis of the stored information isrequested. The analysis can be requested by the device 6 at any time orautomatically initiated as part of a preset schedule. The analysistypically includes comparison of the information from a most recentgaming session to information from at least one previous session.

The stored information can then be analyzed, for example by thecomputing device 8, for trends and deviations from those trends. Trendscan be determined through a moving average algorithm such that bothacute and longitudinal changes can be detected. Some specificembodiments would identify trends and deviations therefrom in theanalysis, but could also identify recommended actions for both thecaregiver and the patient.

In process 204 results of the analysis are distributed based onpredefined settings. For example, the results of the analysis can besent to a stored list of recipients. The device 6 may be included as arecipient.

Along with sending the results, the device 8 can also include anotification 205A-B based on any identified recommend actions resultingfrom the analysis. In the case of an emergency 206, the notification canbe sent differently (for example by phone call instead of email) and/orbe sent to a relevant emergency response group. The device 8 also sendstrend information in process 205C, which will be stored in a database inprocess 207 once received by the device 6.

It will be apparent to those having skill in the art that many changesmay be made to the details of the above-described embodiments withoutdeparting from the underlying principles of the invention. For example,the scope of the present invention should, therefore, be determined onlyby the following claims.

Most of the equipment discussed above comprises hardware and associatedsoftware. For example, the typical portable device is likely to includeone or more processors and software executable on those processors tocarry out the operations described. We use the term software herein inits commonly understood sense to refer to programs or routines(subroutines, objects, plug-ins, etc.), as well as data, usable by amachine or processor. As is well known, computer programs generallycomprise instructions that are stored in machine-readable orcomputer-readable storage media. Some embodiments of the presentinvention may include executable programs or instructions that arestored in machine-readable or computer-readable storage media, such as adigital memory. We do not imply that a “computer” in the conventionalsense is required in any particular embodiment. For example, variousprocessors, embedded or otherwise, may be used in equipment such as thecomponents described herein.

Memory for storing software again is well known. In some embodiments,memory associated with a given processor may be stored in the samephysical device as the processor (“on-board” memory); for example, RAMor FLASH memory disposed within an integrated circuit microprocessor orthe like. In other examples, the memory comprises an independent device,such as an external disk drive, storage array, or portable FLASH keyfob. In such cases, the memory becomes “associated” with the digitalprocessor when the two are operatively coupled together, or incommunication with each other, for example by an I/O port, networkconnection, etc. such that the processor can read a file stored on thememory. Associated memory may be “read only” by design (ROM) or byvirtue of permission settings, or not. Other examples include but arenot limited to WORM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH, etc. Those technologies oftenare implemented in solid state semiconductor devices. Other memories maycomprise moving parts, such as a conventional rotating disk drive. Allsuch memories are “machine readable” or “computer-readable” and may beused to store executable instructions for implementing the functionsdescribed herein.

A “software product” refers to a memory device in which a series ofexecutable instructions are stored in a machine-readable form so that asuitable machine or processor, with appropriate access to the softwareproduct, can execute the instructions to carry out a process implementedby the instructions. Software products are sometimes used to distributesoftware. Any type of machine-readable memory, including withoutlimitation those summarized above, may be used to make a softwareproduct. That said, it is also known that software can be distributedvia electronic transmission (“download”), in which case there typicallywill be a corresponding software product at the transmitting end of thetransmission, or the receiving end, or both.

Having described and illustrated the principles of the invention in apreferred embodiment thereof, it should be apparent that the inventionmay be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from suchprinciples. We claim all modifications and variations coming within thespirit and scope of the following claims

1. A personal portable device, comprising: a housing structured to beworn on a person or handheld; and a processing device located inside thehousing; and a first long range network interface coupled to theprocessing device, the first long range interface configured tocommunicative couple the personal portable device to a remote deviceover a first remote network; a second network interface that isdifferent than the first long range network interface, the secondnetwork interface coupled to the processing device; wherein theprocessing device is configured to: responsive to coupling the secondnetwork interface to a second local area network that is different thanthe first remote network, identify consumer electronic equipment of thesecond local area network; obtain first information responsive toidentifying the consumer electronic equipment of the second local areanetwork; wherein a portion of the first information originates from theidentified consumer electronic equipment and is received over at leastone of the first or second network interfaces, wherein said portion ofthe first information includes least one of a numerical score resultingfrom a first gameplay session using the identified consumer electronicequipment, an in-game achievement resulting from the first gameplaysession, or play duration resulting from the first gameplay session; andperforming a trend analysis using the portion of the first information.2. The personal portable device of claim 1, wherein the processingdevice is further configured to pull the portion of the firstinformation from the identified consumer electronic equipment of thelocal area network.
 3. The personal portable device of claim 1, whereinthe processing device is further configured to: obtain secondinformation including at least one of a numerical game score resultingfrom a second gameplay session that is different than the first gameplaysession, a game achievement resulting from the second gameplay session,or play duration resulting from the second gameplay session; compare thesecond information to a trend associated with the portion of the firstinformation; and notify a user responsive to the comparison.
 4. Thepersonal portable device of claim 3, wherein notifying a user responsiveto the comparison includes displaying information on display screen ofthe portable computing device.
 5. The personal portable device of claim1, further comprising a memory device located inside the housing, thememory device coupled to the processing device, the memory devicestoring a game; wherein the second gameplay sessions results fromoperation of said game of the memory device of the personal portabledevice.
 6. The personal portable device of claim 3, wherein theprocessing device is further configured to check for a differencebetween a first result corresponding to the comparison of the secondinformation to the trend and a first result corresponding to the trendanalysis; responsive to detecting a difference, compare the differenceto a threshold limit; and transmit a caregiver notification over thefirst long range network interface to the remote device based on aresult of the comparison of the difference to the threshold limit.
 7. Anapparatus, comprising: a processing device; and a first long rangenetwork interface coupled to the processing device, the first long rangeinterface configured to communicative couple the processing device to aremote device over a first remote network; a second network interfacethat is different than the first long range network interface, thesecond network interface coupled to the processing device; wherein theprocessing device is configured to: responsive to coupling the secondnetwork interface to a second local area network that is different thanthe first remote network, identify consumer electronic equipment of thesecond local area network; obtain first information responsive toidentifying the consumer electronic equipment of the second local areanetwork; wherein a portion of the first information originates from theidentified consumer electronic equipment and is received over at leastone of the first or second network interfaces, wherein said portion ofthe first information includes least one of a numerical score resultingfrom a first gameplay session using the identified consumer electronicequipment, an in-game achievement resulting from the first gameplaysession, or play duration resulting from the first gameplay session; andperforming a trend analysis using the portion of the first information.8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing device is furtherconfigured to pull the portion of the first information from theidentified consumer electronic equipment of the local area network. 9.The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processing device is furtherconfigured to: obtain second information including at least one of anumerical game score resulting from a second gameplay session that isdifferent than the first gameplay session, a game achievement resultingfrom the second gameplay session, or play duration resulting from thesecond gameplay session; compare the second information to a trendassociated with the portion of the first information; and notify a userresponsive to the comparison.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, whereinnotifying a user responsive to the comparison includes displayinginformation on a local display screen.
 11. The apparatus of claim 7,further comprising a memory device coupled to the processing device, thememory device storing a game; wherein the second gameplay sessionsresults from operation of said game of the memory device.
 12. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the processing device is furtherconfigured to check for a difference between a first resultcorresponding to the comparison of the second information to the trendand a first result corresponding to the trend analysis; responsive todetecting a difference, compare the difference to a threshold limit; andtransmit a caregiver notification over the first long range networkinterface to the remote device based on a result of the comparison ofthe difference to the threshold limit.